The Court of Appeal will review the sentence given to Vickrum Digwa, who fatally stabbed 18-year-old student Henry Nowak in Southampton. Digwa, 23, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years for the murder.
Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC has requested the review of Digwa’s sentence under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. Expressing shock over the case, she highlighted the need for scrutiny in the handling of Nowak’s murder by the police. Reeves emphasized the importance of reevaluating Digwa’s punishment for his actions.
Following careful deliberation, Reeves decided to refer the case to the Court of Appeal, acknowledging that no sentence can fully alleviate the pain experienced by Nowak’s family. However, she hopes that the referral will contribute to providing them with the justice they deserve.
Digwa, described as “weapons-obsessed,” used an eight-inch Sikh ceremonial knife to kill Nowak in December. After the stabbing, Digwa falsely accused Nowak of racially abusing him. Despite Nowak’s pleas for help, police officers, responding to Digwa’s claims, handcuffed him, leaving him to bleed.
Bodycam footage captured Nowak informing officers of the stabbing multiple times, but one officer dismissed his claims. The footage incited public outrage and led to protests, resulting in numerous arrests. Notably, Digwa had been previously investigated in 2023 for suspected theft of ceremonial blades from a Sikh temple in Southampton, but no further action was taken.
